Peterborough United (H) match preview

Rovers return home this weekend when they host Peterborough United at the Keepmoat Stadium in a crucial match in the race for the play-offs in Sky Bet League One.

Rovers picked up a good point on the road last weekend, drawing 1-1 with fellow promotion hopefuls Portsmouth, with Mallik Wilks putting Rovers in front before Omar Bogle’s second-half leveller.

Peterborough on the other hand will be looking to get back to winning ways following last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Plymouth Argyle.

Brief history of Peterborough United

Peterborough play at the 15,314-capacity ABAX Stadium, which has been their home since 1934, and is more commonly known as London Road.

They are nicknamed the Posh, which comes from a former manager claiming that he wanted to buy ‘Posh players for a Posh team’ to compete in their new league.

The Posh are in their sixth season in League One, following their return to the third tier in 2013 after two campaigns in the Championship. Their last promotion from this division came in 2011, winning the League One play-off final at Old Trafford, defeating Huddersfield Town 3-0, with goals from current Rovers captain Tommy Rowe and manager Grant McCann helping them to seal the win.

Who’s the gaffer?

Former Rovers boss Darren Ferguson is the man currently at the helm at London Road, having taken charge of the Posh for the third time in his career last month.

Ferguson made his Posh return following the departure of Steve Evans, having led Peterborough to three promotions and a Football League Trophy triumph in his first two spells.

Across all three periods in charge of the Posh, Ferguson has overseen 369 games, winning 161, drawing 74 and losing 134, leaving him with a total win percentage of 43.63 per cent.

Alex Woodyard

The midfielder was named as Posh captain following his arrival from Lincoln City over the summer. He was a part of the Imps squad that achieved promotion from the National League in 2017, as well as the famous FA Cup run of the same year, and he was a key figure in the team that won last season’s Checkatrade Trophy. Woodyard was an ever-present throughout the last campaign, playing every single game in both the regular season, and playing in the two play-off games in League Two for the Imps, before his move to the Posh.

Siriki Dembélé

The Ivorian-born forward is another of Evans’ summer signings, joining from League Two side Grimsby Town. He has started off this season brightly, scoring twice in Peterborough’s opening five games in League One, including one last weekend’s 5-1 win away at Plymouth Argyle. Siriki’s younger brother Karamoko made the headlines in October 2016 after playing for Celtic’s under-20 side at the age of just 13. The pair are eligible to play for either England, Scotland or Ivory Coast on the international stage, and should they choose to represent the latter, they would be following in the footsteps of relatives, Kolo and Yaya Toure.

Ryan Tafazolli

A former Southampton youth academy product, the central defender has worked his way back into the EFL after time playing in non-league. Tafazolli joined Concord Rangers in 2011 following his departure from St Mary’s, going on to join Cambridge City the following year. He signed for Mansfield Town after a short stint with Cambridge, going on to enjoy four years with the Stags, and helping them to promotion from the National League as champions in his first season at the club. Tafazolli joined the Posh ahead of the 2016/17 season, signing a three-year deal at London Road, and he was named as the club’s Player of the Year after his debut campaign.

Rovers and the Posh shared the spoils when the two sides met back at London Road earlier on this season. John Marquis put Rovers ahead with a well-timed chipped finish just before half-time, before Ryan Tafazolli brought the Posh back on level terms in the second half.

Rovers last win at home to Peterborough came in October 2009 with both teams in the Championship. Goals from Billy Sharp and Dean Shiels put Rovers in control after 21 minutes, before Aaron McLean pulled a goal back for the Posh.

Jason Shackell’s goal five minutes from time though would see Rovers out of sight as they secured three points at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Rovers return to the Keepmoat Stadium to face off against Peterborough United, managed by Darren Ferguson, on Saturday February 9. Tickets can be bought from the Club Doncaster Box Office on 01302 762576, or via tickets.clubdoncaster.co.uk.